Wood issues???

[Magnum Man]

So I cut a lot of wood, and am hoping to maybe someday be able to do some small wood working projects… so anyway I have an interest…

I’ve been using barkless Maple sticks in my tanks, as Repashi sticks… harvested from our property, I have seen spalting in wood I have chainsawed outside, and occasionally see red streaking in the Maple, and Box Elder woods… my understanding, is both of these conditions is cause by a fungus, but are capable of creating lovely pieces of finished wood…

I’ve not noticed any issues with the fish in my aquariums, but I have a couple pieces, that I’m noticing the development of the red streaks in my sticks, in my aquariums…
In both of those conditions, it’s in the grain of the wood, and kind of like cracking a geode, the beauty, is not seen from the outside
Do you think this could be cause for future concern, as far as fish health???

 

[MaloK]

Both are not caused by the same thing in Maple and Box Elder.

Some are caused by Fusarium solani and that would not be that good in an aquarium. It comes from tropical and subtropical regions and is a potential emerging cause of illness in captive fish. It can be introduced to your aquarium through wood.

Scholarly articles for Fusarium solani infection in fish

But... Properly cured wood is perfectly safe to use even if it was previously contaminated by any kind of fungus or bacteria... They are all dead.

 

[Magnum Man]

This is a picture of the streaking on one piece

BTW… II’m in Minnesota, anything but “tropical” here…
I’ll read the article, when I get to work… I snapped this picture on the way out

 

[MaloK]

This looks more like stress points that the tree healed with time.

 

[Oldspartan]

Looks like ambrosia beetle. They attack healthy soft maple as well as unhealthy conifer trees. If I timber right, and I. May not, the red is a result of their farming food.

I would boil the wood, or simmer at 165 plus then bake dry at about 225f until dry. Then burnish lightly with a torch. The burnishing seals the wood and greatly postpones rot.

 

[Colin_T]

Wood issues???
most guys have that when they are over 50

 

[Magnum Man]

I'm 63... what are you saying??? they make wonderful little pills...

 

[Magnum Man]

Flamed

Spalted

 

[Oldspartan]

Global shipping is doing much damage by bringing stowaways to places with no natural predation to the pests.

In my area alone the elms are gone, the beech are just behind, conifers are under stress, ash are failing to name just a few.

That does not even mention the”new” fish species in the Hudson, Mississippi, the Great Lakes and any other port area.

Then there are the aquatic weeds.

Bilge water and shipping crates are oft overlooked as dangers.

All unintended consequences of the modern globalized world.

 

[Oldspartan]

FlamedView attachment 340549
Spalted

View attachment 340551

Both valuable in the wood working industry.

 

[Oldspartan]

Would love to lathe them into bowls.

 

[Magnum Man]

when I retire, I'd like to do small wood projects, gun grips, coasters, smaller more simple projects... I have both conditions, pictured above, going on right now in my woods, & have been buying small wood working tools... I figured my bark free branches ( sheep eat the bark off unprotected trees, killing them standing... then the bark falls off the branches... this is what I've been using as my "Repashi sticks" none died "naturally" or from pests smaller than sheep... I guess I didn't think about the flame & spalting, & possible relation to use in the aquariums... & as I listed above, I've not seen any issues with my fish from such, so far...

I used to boil my driftwood, but was getting beaten up, saying that that would make it disintegrate too fast... but maybe baking for an hour at 250 degrees in the oven would be a better idea???

 

[WhistlingBadger]

I'm guessing the color is no big deal. I use locally collected wood in all my tanks, and some of it turns interesting colors as the water and microbes interact with the wood. I don't know anything about the Fusarium that Malok mentioned, but I've never had a problem worse than "driftwood snot," which seems harmless and usually goes away before in a month or two.

However, I wouldn't use chainsawed wood in an aquarium, since chainsaws spew motor oil onto the wood, and that can't be good for fish. I have a good quality bow saw for just such jobs.

 

[Magnum Man]

for my Repasahi sticks, I'm collecting branches 1-2 inches in diameter, and use an electric saw, to trim to length...

 

[WhistlingBadger]

for my Repasahi sticks, I'm collecting branches 1-2 inches in diameter, and use an electric saw, to trim to length...

Do electric saws use oil? I was under the impression that they did, but I could be wrong.